Sintering machine and pallet



Dec. 8, 1942. E; w. SHALLOCK ETAL 2,304, 81

" smmnme MACHINE AND PALLET Filed July 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQRS: E'Qurgrd ZM Shellac/2 BY Wtleam 1]. Urban, v JMWJW 1 m ATTORNEYS.

Dec.8, 1942. 1

SINTERING MACHINE AND PALLET Filed July 5. 1940' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS: ZEEzwqrd 21/. Shazfloo/n BY Zlfa'llzam, TI urban,

rflzlw ATTORNEYS.

a. w. SHALLOCK ETAL .304381 Dec. 8, 1942.

E. w. SH'ALLOCK ETAL ,304,381 SINTERING MACHINE AND PALLET Filed Jl lly 5, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Edward 5% 5/1/62 (Zoo/'2 ATTORNEYS.

m 8, 1942- E. vy. SHAL LQCK' EI'AL' 2,304,

SINTERING MACHINE AND PALLET V Filed July 5, 1940 4'Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS: Edam/d Z'MJiZallock JMMJM Patented Dec. 8, i942 2,304,381 sm'rsama'mcnmnmnrmn'r Edward w. Shallock and William J. Urban,

Chicago, Ill-,- asslgnors to American Ore Reclamation Company, Chicago lit, a corporation of New York Application July 5, 1940, Serial no. 343,998

11 Claims.

The praent invention relatesto an improvement in sintering machines and pallets therefor.

sintering machines of the Dwight 8: Lloyd type,

now well known in the art and to which our invention is applicable, comprise a continuous track having a substantially horizontal upper run and a lower run which are connected at their ends by substantially semi-circular return bends. The pallets are propelled along the upper run of of the track in endwise contact, where they are charged with the material to be sintered, and the material is ignited and slntered by down draft combustion in the continued travel of the pallets toward the discharge end, where the sinter is discharged; in a known manner. The pallets then pass down around the return bend at the discharge or deilveryend of the machine and along the lower run of the track to the return bend at the feed end, where they are elevated to the upper run along which they are propelled,

by known means.

In sintering machines of the continuoustype referred to, the pallets at the return bends usually are held with the hub portions of each pallet in contact with the hub portions of the next adjacent pallets. The term hub portions as herein used denotes the bosses formed at the ends of the pallet frame for mounting the wheels. Each boss is formed so that its outer end surface is concentric with the axis of rotation of the associated wheel so that when two adjacent pallets pass around a curve the hub portions at the adjacent ends thereof are in contact. Since the individual pallets are frequently quite, heavy, weighing from one thousand to twelve hundred pounds, the pressure exerted upon the hub portions of the pallets at the return'bends is considerable, as will lie-appreciated.

Whenthe pallets pass from a return bend to a straight section of the track, or vice versa, the hub portions thereof move in opposite directions and rub together under considerable pressure. This constant rubbing, and the frequently high-' ly abrasive character of the materialshandled, causes rapid wear of the end portions of the pallet frames, which necessitates frequent repair thereof to assure efficient operation of the machine. Instances are known in which the ends of the pallet frames, due to neglect, have become so badly worn that the wheels of adjacent pallets touch each other and the end plates of the pallets diverge defining openings between them, causing objectionable air leakage between palletspassing along the upper run of the track.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby the hub portions of adjacent pallets roll upon each other without objectlonable rubbing upon entering or leaving straight sections of the track, thereby substantially eliminating wear of the end portions of the pallet frames. We provide guide means at each of the points of transition from straight track to curve track or curve track to straight track, each pallet having means cooperating with the guide means to attain rolling of the hub portions upon each otheras stated. More specifically, we provide guide sections at each of the transition portions of the track, and a train of pallets having front and rear guide wheels which travel upon the track and cooperate with the guide sections and cams with which the latter are provided in such manner that the contacting hubs of adjacent pallets in effect roll one on the other without objectionable relative movement and rubbing together thereof, when the wheels of the pallets are passing along any transition portion of the track. Other objects and advantages will appear from the following detail description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a sintering machine and pallets therefor constructed in accordance with the principles of our invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the return bend and upper run at the feed end of the sintering machine and pallets of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the upper run and return bend at the discharge end of the sintering machine of Figure 1; I

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken I substantially on line B-i of Figure 5, certain parts being shownin elevation;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 'l--'I of Figure 5, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevation of a' certain be propelled along of the side Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional 'view taken substantially on line |8||l of Figure 8, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 11 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the lower run and return bend at the feed end of the sintering machine of Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line |2|2 of Figure 11, certain parts being shown in elevation; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line |3--| 3 of Figure 11,. certain parts being shown in elevation.

Referring now to Figure 1, our sintering machine, in general, is of known construction and includes a suitable main supporting frame 6. An endless track I is suitably mounted upon the frame and comprises upper and lower horizontal runs 8 and 9, respectively, connected by return bends l8 and II at'the feed end and discharge .end, respectively, of the machine.

According to our invention we-incorporate in such an endless track, guide track sections l2, I3, l4 and I5 at the portions of transition from curved to straight track or straight to curved track, i. e., at the return bend l8 and upper run 8 at the feed end, upper run 8 and return bend II at the delivery end, return bend II and lower. run 9 at the delivery end, and lower run 9 and return bend Ill at the feed end,'respectively, of the sinterlng machine. These several guide sections provide means which, together witha special other when traveling along the upper run, as shownin Figure 1. The front wheels 33 of the pallets are each provided with an inner tread portion 31 and outer tread portions 38 and 39, the tread portion 31 preferably being of slightly larger diameter than the tread portions 38 and 39, which are of equal diameter. The tread portions 38 and 39 are simply separate areasof a'single outwardly extending cylindrical portion of the wheel 33, as indicated by the dot-dash line in the several figures. Each of the rear wheels 34 comprises tread surfaces 48 and 4| of equal diam eter which are also simply separate areas of the wheel. The diameter of the rear wheel treads 48 and 4| is the same as that of the tread portion 37 of the front wheel 33.

The pallets in passing from return bend I0 enter guide section l2, whereupon the tread surface 31 of the front wheel will ride upon the surface at the bottom of groove 29 and the treadportion 4| of the rear wheel will ride upon the cam surface 28.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be noted that groove 29 diminishes in depth from its central portion toward each end. We have shown three rallets disposed with their hub portions in contact, of whichthe first is passing from guide section l2 onto the straight upper run of the track, the

I second is passing; through the guide section, and

construction of the pallets, functions to achieve the objects of the invention and which will be described in detail hereinafter.

A train of separate pallets l6 are adapted to the track in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, by any suitable means which may be driven from a drive shaft I! which is suitably mounted for rotation upon the supporting frame 6. One suitable mechanism for this purpose is disclosed in 'United States Patent No. 1,764,695, dated June 17, 1930. .Obviously any other suitable or preferred means for driving the machine may be employed,

A feed'hopper l9 and igniter 28 are disposed above the upper run 8, adjacent the feed end of the third is passing from the return bend ||l into the guide section l2. As the first pallet approaches upper run 8 of the track, tread portion 31 of its front wheel travels upward along the inner portion of the lower wall of groove 29, causing tilting or swinging of this pallet in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis of its rear wheels. At the inner end of groove 29 tread portion 31 of the front wheel enters upon the rail of upper run 8 of the track, and at the same time, tread portion 4| of the rear wheel enters upon the upper horizontal portion of cam element 28, this, latter portion of the cam element being in the plane of the upper surface of the upper run the machine, and a plurality of windboxes 2| are disposed below and closely adjacent the upper run 8, in a manner well known in the art for the purposes previously set forth.

Referring now to Figures 2 through 4, the guide section I2 is suitably fixed between return bend l8 and upper run 8 of the track at the feed end of the machine. Guide section |2 comprises a plate member 25 which is provided with opposed upper and lower flanges 26 and 21, respectively, which are directed inwardly of the sintering machine, the upper face of the flange 21' being formed with a cam surface 28 extending substantially the entire length of the guide section. A groove 29, at the inner edge of flange 21, extends for a major portion of the length of the flange.

Each pallet l6 comprises a substantially rectangular frame 38, disposed transversely of the portions 3| stub shafts are tangent are concentric with the respective 32 and the ends of the side plates 5 to the hub portions so that the ends plates of adjacent pallets abut each plates 35 are secured to each of the pallet frames. The outer surfaces of the hub of the corresponding track rail. Thereafter no further tilting of the first pallet occurs during its travel along the upper run of the track.

During the first portion of the referred to travel of the first pallet, the tread portion 31 of the front wheel of the second pallet travels upon the lower wall of groove 29 at the deeper portion thereof, and tread portion 4| of the rear wheel of the second pellet is entering upon the cam element 28 and subsequently travels upward along the high and at the same rate, with no objectionable rubportion of cam element 28. That causes tilting of the second pallet in a. clockwise direction about the axis of its front wheels, at the same rate as the tilting of the. first pallet, cam. element 28 and the lower wall of groove 29 being appropriately formed to that end. Accordingly, the abutting hub portions 3| of the first and second pallets merely rollone on the other in opposite directions bing therebetween, during the referred to portion of the travel of the first and second pallets. During the second portion of the travel of the first and second pallets, after tread portion 4| of the rear wheel of the first pallet enters upon the horizontal portion of cam element 28, hub portion 3| of the second pallet continues to roll in a clockwise direction, in contact with, hub portion 3| of the first pallet, of the second pallet are brought into contact with the ends of the side plates of the first pallet. At that time tread portion 4| of the rearwheel of the second pallet passes onto the horizontal poruntil the ends of the side plates tion of cam element a, and the iirst and second palletsthentravelontoandalongtheupperrun -of the track in endwise abutting relation one to one rear wheel of the respective pallets. It will be understood, of course, that each pallet has two front and two rear wheels, and that the spacing between the axes of the front and rear wheels is the same on all of the pallets, the radius of the .side of the sintering machine for guiding a front and a rear wheel at each side of the pallets. The

lower wall of each groove 25 and each cam eleportion of groove 25 and this pallet is'then tilted clockwiseabout the axis of its rear wheels, as the tread portion 31 of the front wheel of the second pallet travels up the inclined inner portion of the lower wall of groove 25, causing tilting of the second pallet in counter-clockwise direction about the axis of its rear wheels. Accordingly, the abutting hub portions 3| of the second and third pallets rollone .on the other in opposite directions and at the same rate, the movements between the second and third pallets, from that point on, being the same as the movements between the first and the second pallets previously described.

It will be seen that the abutting hub portions of pallets passing from the return bend" to the. upper run I of the track have rolling contact one ment are, ofcourse, appropriately formed to, impart to the pallets the desired tilting movements as above described. a

The guide section l3 may be formed with a subtartially straight portion 45 such as disclosed in the previously mentioned Patent No. 1,764,695. This section comprises lower and upper inwardly extending flanges l1 and 49, respectively, the inner face of the flange H has a cam surface 45 at the .outer edge thereof and, at its inner edge, is provided with a groove 48 extending substantially along the entire length of the guide section. At this portion of transition of the track the tread portons 35 of the front wheels of the pallets will ride upon the cam. surface 45 and the tread poraround a sprocket, adjacent links,-which are pivoted on a common axis, rotate a limited extent about this axis. Now it will be seen that if lines are drawn through the two pivots of the links, respectively, the points of intersection of such lines of adjacent links passing about the sprocket will always lie upon the arc of a true circle. We have applied that same principle to our sintering machine. Referring to-Figure 1, it will be seen that the return bend 'II is concentric with the axis of rotation of drive shaft l1 and return bend I is also concentric with a definite center point. When the pallets pass through those portions of the track, the points of intersection of lines drawn through the front and rear wheels of the pallets, respectively, will be upon an arc concentric with the centers of the return bends l0 and I l. However, in sintering machines in which the retum portions of the track are semi-circular the intersection of the lines passing through the wheel centers of the respective pallets, will not lie upon an arc concentric with the center of the bend when the pallets leave or enter the straight portions of the track. We have, therefore, proranged that the intersection of the lines extending through the front and rear wheels of the pallets, respectively, will lie, or substantially lie.

upon an arc concentric with the center of the return bends II and II. For convenience of description. we have referred to but one front and section M.

will engage the upper inner surface of the groove 48. Referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that we have shown a pair of pallets, the forward one of which has its front wheels in the arcuate return bend H and its rear wheels disposed in the guide section I3. The following pallet is completely within the guide section and the tread portion 39 of its forward wheel is riding up the cam surface tendingto tilt. the palletabout the axis of its rear'wheel in a counter-clockwise direction, together with the forward pallet which is tilting in a clockwise direction about the horizontal axis of its forward wheel, which causes the abutting hubs 3| to roll upon each other at the same rate. After the pallets pass through the guide section I! to circular bend II, the forward whe ls travel on their treads 31 and the rear wheels on their treads ll.

The pall ts after passing around the circular bend II will enter guide section II at the next transition portion of the endless track in their travel therearound, and reference may be had to Fi ures 8 through 10 for a showing thereof. The

guide section I4 consists of a plate member 5|! aving inwardly directed upper and lower flanges 5i and 52, respectively, flange 52 being provided at its inner surface and along the outer edge with a suitably formed cam surface 54. The flange 52 is provided with a, groove 55 along the inner ed e extending substantially the entire length of The tread surface 39 of the front wheels of the pallets ride along the cam surface 54 and the tread surfaces II and of the rear wheels ride. upon the surface of the groove 55. Re erence may be had to Figure 8 in which we have shown three pallets, the flrst of which is entering the lower run 9. the second in passing throu h the guide section. and the third is entering the gu de section. The forward pallet is tilting about the axis of its front wheels in 2. counterloclrwise direction and the second pallet is tilting in a clockwise direction about the axis of its forward'wheels of thethird pallet, which is entering the guide section, are riding up upon the inclined portions of cam 56 tilting th pellet in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis of its rear wheels'and it will be apparent that the abutting hubs 3| of the second and third pallets having inwardly directed upper and lower flanges 6| and 62 respectively. A cam surface 63 is formed along the outer edge of the inner sm'face of lower flange and has a groove 64 extending substantially along the entire length of the guide section IS. The pallets in passing along this transition portion ride upon the tread portion 31 of the front wheels upon the inner surface 'of the groove 64, and the treads 4| of the rear wheels ride upon cam surfaces 63. I In Figure 12 we-have shown three pallets, the first of which is entering the return bend III, the second pallet is passing through the guide'section, and thethird pallet is entering the guide section. The flrst'pallet will tilt in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis of its front wheels, the second pallet will tilt in a clockwise direction about the axis of its rear wheels, since tread area 31 of the front wheel is riding up the inclined surface at the bottom of groove 64; and the third pallet'will tilt in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus the abutting hubs 3| of adjacent pallets will roll upon each other at the same rate, the cam surface being appropriately designed to that end. The pallets when fully in the arcuate return bend III will ride upon tread portions 31 of the front wheels and treads 40 of the rear wheels.

So far as we are aware in the constructions known in the art the abutting hub portions of adjacent pallets are not symmetrically related and will slide upon each other in passing around curved sections of track, while with our invention the symmetrical relation of the hubs is always maintained.

The embodiment shown and described is the preferred form of our invention, but it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of th appended claims. y

We claim:

1. In a sintering machine, a continuous track comprising upper and lower straight sections connected at their ends by return bends, a train of pallets adapted to travel upon said track in abutting relation, said pallets having hub portions at their ends adapted to permit adjacent pallets to roll upon each other in passing through said return bends, and means for preventing relative sliding movement of said abutting hub portions of adjacent pallets upon each other when the latter are passing to and from said straight sections of said track.

2. In a sintering machine; a continuous track comprising upper and lower straight sections of track and substantially semi-circular return bends, guide means connecting said straight sections to said return bends, and a train of separate pallets traveling upon said track in abutting relation, said pallets having hub portions at their ends adapted to permit adjacent pallets to roll upon each other in passing through said guide means and said return bends, said guide means and said pallets having cooperating means for sections to said return bends, and a train of separate pallets each having front and rear guide wheels travelling upon said track, said pallets having hub portions at their ends adapted to permit adjacent pallets to roll upon each other in passing through said guide sections and said return bends, said wheels cooperating with said guide sections for preventing relative sliding movement of said hub portions of adjacent pallets upon each other when the latter are passing.

through said guide sections.

4. In a sintering machine, a track, a train of pallets each having front and rear wheels travelling on said track, means for guiding said pallets, said pallets having hub portions at their ends adapted to permit adjacent-pallets to roll upon each other in passing through said guiding means, said guiding means comprising upper and lower flanges, a cam extending along the inner surface of said lower flange adjacent one edge thereof, a groove adjacent the other edge of said lower flange, said front and rear wheels of each of said pallets being adapted to travel between said flanges, each of said front wheels having a tread area adapted to ride in said groove, and each of said rear wheels. having a tread area adapted to ride upon said cam, said cam and said groove being shaped to coact with said front and rear wheels of said pallets ,to tilt said pallets to prevent relative sliding movement of said hub portions of adjacent pallets upon each other in passing through said guiding means.

5. In a sintering machine, a track, a train of I pallets each having front; and rear wheels travelling on said track, means for guiding said pallets, said pallets having hub portions at their ends adapted to permit adjacent pallets to roll upon each other in passing through said guiding means, said guiding means comprising upper and lower flanges, a cam extending along the inner surface of said lower flange adjacent one edge thereof, a groove adjacent the other edge of said lower flange, said front and rear wheels of said pallets being adapted to travel between said flanges, each of said front wheels having a tread area adapted to ride upon said cam, each of said rear wheels having a tread area adapted to ride in said groove, said cam and said groove being adapted to coact with said front and rear wheels of said pallets to tilt said pallets to prevent relative'sliding movement of said hub portions of adjacent pallets upon each other in passing through said guiding extending adjacent one edge thereof and having a groove adjacent its other edge, said camiand said groove of said guide member being shaped .to coact with each of said front and rear wheels of said pallets to tilt said pallets to prevent relative sliding movement of said hub portions-of adjacent pallets upon each other in passing through said guide. member.

asoaaei '1. In a sintering machine, a track, a min of pallets each having front and rear wheels travelling on said tr ck, means for guiding said pallets, said pallet having hub portions at their ends adapted to permit adjacent pallets to roll upon each other in passing through said guiding means, said guiding means comprising a member having opposed upper and lower flanges, a, cam

extending along the upper surface of said lower flange adjacent one edge thereof, said latter each of said rear wheels having inner and outer tread areas equal to the diameter of said inner tread of each of said front wheels, said inner tread of each of said front wheels being adapted to ride in said groove and said outer tread of each of said rear wheels being adapted to ride upon said cam, said cam and said groove being shaped to coact with said front and rear wheels of said pallets to tilt said pallets to prevent relative sliding movement of said hub portions of adjacent pallets upon each other in passing through said guiding means.

8. In a sintering machine, a track, a train of pallets each having front and rear wheels travelling on said track, means for guiding said pallets, said pallets having hub portions at their ends adapted to permit adjacent pallets to roll upon each other in passing through said guid; ing means said-guiding-means comprising a member having opposed upper and lower flanges, a cam extending along the upper surface of said lower flange adjacent one edge thereof, said latter flange having a groove adjacent its other edge, said front and rear wheels of said pallets being adapted to travel between said flanges, each of said front wheels having three tread areas of which the outer and intermediate treads are of equal diameter and the inner tread of larger diameter than said outer and intermediate treads, each of said rear wheels having inner and outer tread areas equal to the diameter of said inner tread of each ofsaid front wheels, said outer tread of each of said front wheels being adapted to ride upon said cam, and said inner and-outer treads of each of said rear wheels being adapted 5, to ride in said groove, said cam and said groove being shaped to coact with said front and rear wheels of said pallets to tilt said pallets to prevent relative sliding movement of saidhub portions of adjacent pallets upon each other in passing through said guiding means.

' 9. A pallet comprising, a frame having a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, said front wheels each having three tread areas two of which are of equal diameter and the third 5 tread of greater diameter, said rear wheels each having two tread-;areas of a diameter equal to the diameter-of said third tread of said front wheels.

10. 'A pallet comprising, a frame having a pair of front wheels and a. pair of rear wheels, said front wheels each having three tread areas. two of which are qf equal diameter and the third tread of greater diameter, said rear wheels each having two tread areas of a diameter equal to the diameter of said third tread of said front wheels, said frame having a'plurality of hub portions one for each of said wheels for mounting said wh'eels thereon, the outer surface of each of said hub portions being concentric with its respective pallet wheel.

ll.' In a sintering machine comprising, an endless track, and a train of pallets having wheels riding upon said track, said pallets having huh,

portions at their ends adapted to permit adjacent pallets to roll upon each other in passing through curved" portions of saidtrack, a guide means compr igng a megr per having opposed upper and lower flanges, a cam extending along the upper surface of said lower flange adjacent one edge 40 thereof, and a groove in said lower flange adjacent the other edge thereof, said cam and said groove being shaped to coEct-withsaiiwheels to tilt said pallets to prevent relative slidirEmovement of said hubs of adjacent pallets upon each other in passing through said guide means.

WILLIAMJ. URBAN. 

